ZAGREB, June 30 (Hina) - Croatian Television (HTV) did not televise the ruling Croatian Democratic Union's 10th Anniversary to serve public interest but rather to serve the interests of the ruling party, spokesman for the Organisation
for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Peter Palmer, said in Zagreb on Wednesday Palmer spoke at a press conference following a regular meeting between international community representatives in Croatia and Croatian radio and Television (HRT) director Ivica Vrkic. The topic of the most recent meeting was the televising of the upcoming election campaign, as well as the recent televising of the HDZ's 10th anniversary. The way the event was reported, was not in the public's interest but rather to serve the ruling party, said spokesman for the Organisation for European Security and Cooperation (OSCE). This telecast was particularly unproportional, both during the evening
ZAGREB, June 30 (Hina) - Croatian Television (HTV) did not televise
the ruling Croatian Democratic Union's 10th Anniversary to serve
public interest but rather to serve the interests of the ruling
party, spokesman for the Organisation for Security and Cooperation
in Europe (OSCE), Peter Palmer, said in Zagreb on Wednesday
Palmer spoke at a press conference following a regular meeting
between international community representatives in Croatia and
Croatian radio and Television (HRT) director Ivica Vrkic.
The topic of the most recent meeting was the televising of the
upcoming election campaign, as well as the recent televising of the
HDZ's 10th anniversary.
The way the event was reported, was not in the public's interest but
rather to serve the ruling party, said spokesman for the
Organisation for European Security and Cooperation (OSCE).
This telecast was particularly unproportional, both during the
evening news and the Motrista current affairs programme, as was the
two-day telecast interview with the president of the republic. it
was quite disturbing, Palmer said.
The OSCE Mission to Croatia expressed satisfaction with the recent
Regional Conference on Demining held in Croatia June 27 to 29,
seeing that demining is a key issue to the return of refugees to
individual areas of Croatia.
We value the Government's initiative to hold the
conference...demining is vital to renewing life in particular
regions, he said.
This initiative by the Croatian Government should serve as an
example for other countries in the region, Palmer said, adding that
the OSCE had invited the international community to assist Croatia
with demining.
The OSCE spokesman reminded that a very positive meeting was held
June 23 with the Government's commission for missing persons which
was attended by the OSCE as well and where it was decided that the
Joint Council of Municipalities in the Danube region should
candidate Serb representatives to the national Commission for
Missing Persons as well as local commissions in the Danube region.
This will offer the Serb community in this country and opportunity
to give any information they may have regarding missing persons.
This is an important initiative and we hope that these positions
will be filled quickly, he said.
In cooperation between the OSCE and the Italian interior ministry,
currently 15 Croat police officers are being trained in Rome. Most
of these are from the Danube region.
This is extremely important as a professional attitude by the
police is vital to maintain peace in the region, Palmer said.
Speaking at the same press conference UNHCR spokesman Andrej
Mahecic told journalists that Kosovo refugees in Croatia now wish
to return to Kosovo.
He warned however, that care should be taken with returns due to
problems of security in Kosovo.
The UNHCR is to organise a seminar on mines for 368 Kosovo refugees
currently residing in the Gasinci refugee centre, Mahecic said.
(hina) sp